• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Lakewood Ranch boys soccer advances to regional final

The Mustangs scored the game-winning goal with six minutes remaining.


  • By Ryan Kohn
  • | 12:32 a.m. February 5, 2017
  • East County
  • Sports
  • Share

The Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team defeated Palm Harbor University High School 4-3 on Saturday night to advance to the Class 5A Region 2 final. 

The Mustangs were down 1-0 in the first half when forward Anthony Hroncich tied the game up. The game then became the Pablo Vargas show. The junior forward created chance after chance on the outside, and scored twice. 

With the score tied 3-3 with just six minutes to go in the game, senior Ricky Yanez scored the game-winning goal, a low blast after a long pass from fellow senior Connor Bezet. 

Lakewood Ranch will host Plant City to decide the Class 5A Region 2 title at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Connor Bezet takes a corner kick.
Connor Bezet takes a corner kick.
Pablo Vargas puts a shot past the Palm Harbor goalkeeper.
Pablo Vargas puts a shot past the Palm Harbor goalkeeper.
Pablo Vargas airplanes in celebration after a goal.
Pablo Vargas airplanes in celebration after a goal.
Ricky Yanez takes the ball upfield.
Ricky Yanez takes the ball upfield.
Sam Stapleton-Jones takes a corner kick.
Sam Stapleton-Jones takes a corner kick.
Sam Stapleton-Jones fakes out a Palm Harbor University defender.
Sam Stapleton-Jones fakes out a Palm Harbor University defender.
The Mustangs celebrate after the big win.
The Mustangs celebrate after the big win.
The Mustangs will face Plant City in the regional final.
The Mustangs will face Plant City in the regional final.

 

Latest News

Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
Sarasota Police Department personnel monitor Sarasota's network of cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors and other devices in the nearly completed Real-Time Operations Center.
  • December 4, 2025
SPD set to grow its city camera system

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Sports

Roberto Burlew dribbles down the turf at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Paradise signed the defender to their roster ahead of the team's first professional season in USL League One.
  • December 3, 2025
Paradise defender parlays position change into a professional contract
Anquan Polynice poses for a photo before a Dec. 1 practice at Braden River High School. Now standing at 5-foot-10, he averaged 15.0 points and 2.0 steals per game as a sophomore.
  • December 2, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Anquan Polynice
Mica Sarraco (white) battles with Olivia Uchiritz (blue) during a polo match at Sarasota Polo Club.
  • December 1, 2025
Sarasota Polo Club gallops forward with new women's league
Coach Cezar Sharbono talks his players through drills during practice. He's entering his sixth season at the helm of the Braden River wrestling program.
  • November 26, 2025
Braden River High wrestling hopes to build on record-setting 2024-25 season
With seven goals and one assist through five games, Avery Rice has already made a winning impact for undefeated Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer.
  • November 25, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avery Rice
Vinny Mercadante tosses a lacrosse ball and holds his stick at Summerfield Community Park in Lakewood Ranch. He played for Cardinal Mooney in 2016-18, Marian University in 2018-19 and Florida State in 2021-23 but has since committed to coaching.
  • November 24, 2025
Cardinal Mooney grad builds his own lacrosse training school

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now